Google Tools for Educators


Description: If you’re like most people, you use Google’s products several times a day to search for information or check email. Most people don’t know, however, how many useful tools Google has to make research and time management much easier. Here are just a few of the products Google offers that may be worth trying whether you’re a teacher or student.

Tools:
  • Blogspot
  • iGoogle
  • Gmail
  • Google Books
  • Google Calendar - Google calendar is an online planner. You have the option of showing your tasks by day, month, week, 4 days.
  • Google Classroom Posters - Handy tips forimproving search results and using popular Google products like Google Earth. Just print out these posters and hang them where everyone can see them.
  • Google Custom Search: builds a personalized search engine so that your students can search within a finite number of web pages that you chose!
  • Google Docs is an easy-to-use online word processor, spreadsheet and presentation editor that enables you and your students to create, store and share instantly and securely, and collaborate online in real time. You can create new documents from scratch or upload existing documents, spreadsheets and presentations. There's no software to download, and all your work is stored safely online and can be accessed from any computer.
  • Google Earth is a virtual globe that provides maps, directions, and specific geographical information
  • Google for EducatorsTeachers post stories and ideas about how they use Google products in their classroom. Check out examples of teacher work in the classroom activities section.There are also tip posters that you can print for your classroom, computer lab or library.
  • Google Finance
  • Google Forms
  • Google Groups Google Groups enables everyone to create mailing lists and discussion. They can share documents, spreadsheets, presentations, calendars, and videos.
  • Google Maps
  • Google Mars: click here for a lesson on planets
  • Google news
  • Google Newsletter for EducatorsSign up to receive updates on new features, tips and other information relevant to teachers.
  • Google Presentation - A web based PowerPoint-like tool
  • Google Reader is a Web-based aggregator, capable of reading Atom and RSS feeds online or offline
  • Google Sites An easy to use, website builder by Google.
  • Google Sky You can teach your students about astronomy while zooming around the universe. Real imagery from the Hubble Space Telescope is stitched together with imagery of the rest of the sky.
  • Google Spreadsheets
  • Google Talk - Teachers and students can call or send instant messages to their contacts for free, anytime, anywhere in the world. The possibilities for people collaborating on projects from different locations are endless.
  • Google Translate Google's free online language translation service instantly translates text and web pages.
  • Google Video
  • Picasa-Picasa is free photo editing software from Google.
  • Google SketchUp is software that you can use to create 3D models of anything you like
  • YouTube Edu The site is aggregating videos from dozens of colleges and universities, ranging from lectures to student films to athletic events.
  • Google Lit Trips
Resources
Google tools for educators